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City · 18,299 residents · Caldwell County, North Carolina

Lenoir , North Carolina

In Lenoir, a typical home is worth $179,400 and typical rent is $664 a month. Compared with all of Caldwell County, typical household income is 12% lower, typical rent is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $179,400

    7% below the county

    38% below North Carolina

    • Lenoir
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $664a month

    11% below the county

    46% below North Carolina

    • Lenoir
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $49,910a year

    12% below the county

    31% below North Carolina

    • Lenoir
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    9 points below the county

    2 points below North Carolina

    • Lenoir
    • Caldwell
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$211,259
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Lenoir is in Caldwell County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Caldwell County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Lenoir apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Lenoir has the 4th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($664).

  2. Lenoir has the 6th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 136 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people (36%).

  3. 64% of households in Lenoir own their home, against 74% in Caldwell County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Lenoir

What homes there are in Lenoir, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Lenoir (69%), but less so than in Caldwell County (73%).

Year built

The typical home in Lenoir was built in 1972, 8 years before the typical one in Caldwell County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Lenoir sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Caldwell County is high ($1,147): at least 89% of rents in Lenoir cost less than $1,000.

With a mortgage

$1,195 a month

Caldwell County: $1,191 a month

Without a mortgage

$358 a month

Caldwell County: $362 a month

Owners with a mortgage

50%

Caldwell County: 51%

Owning costs about the same in Lenoir as in Caldwell County: with a mortgage, $1,195 a month; without one, $358.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Lenoir rose at about the same pace as in Caldwell County: 61% against 63%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Lenoir did not change clearly, according to the Census.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLenoirCaldwell CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.172.422.442.53
Drive alone 77%82%72%69%
Carpool 11%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 11%7%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.17 on average, against 2.42 in Caldwell County.

Working from home is more common in Lenoir: 11%, against 7% in Caldwell County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Lenoir?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Lenoir, worth $179,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Lenoir, which is $49,910 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $62,423 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Caldwell County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Lenoir. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,279 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,457

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$176,151
Total interest
$253,439
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,030 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,165 a month

  • Tight

    $1,165 to $1,497 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $1,497 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Lenoir ($49,910 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,457
Principal & interest$1,193
Property tax$109
Home insurance$75
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$79

You need at least $6,279 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Lenoir and Caldwell County

Lenoir is in Caldwell County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Lenoir's own numbers

Typical home value
$179,400
Typical monthly rent
$664
Typical yearly household income
$49,910
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Caldwell County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,147
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Caldwell County.

Everything about Caldwell County

Buying

Buying a home in Lenoir

A typical home in Lenoir is worth $179,400: 7% below the county and 38% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Lenoir ($49,910 a year), a typical home costs 3.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Lenoir 3.6 years
  • Caldwell 3.4 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Caldwell County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Caldwell County rose 108% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Caldwell County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.4% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +108% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Lenoir next to Caldwell County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Lenoir $179,400
  • Caldwell $192,200
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Lenoir $664
  • Caldwell $744
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Lenoir $49,910
  • Caldwell $56,425
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Lenoir next to Caldwell County and North Carolina
Measure Lenoir Caldwell County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $179,400 $192,200 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $664 $744 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,910 $56,425 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 74% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,311 $1,150 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.73% 0.6% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 36% 40% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Caldwell County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lenoir

For a typical $179,400 home in Lenoir, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lenoir's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,457a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,279
    Cash to close
    $11,661
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $79

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,424a month

    Down payment
    $8,970
    Cash to close
    $14,352
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $85

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,156a month

    Down payment
    $35,880
    Cash to close
    $41,262
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,322a month

    Down payment
    $26,910
    Cash to close
    $32,292
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lenoir and for Caldwell County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Lenoir

0.73%of the home’s value each year

$1,311 a year for the typical owner in Lenoir.

  • Lenoir 0.73%
  • Caldwell 0.6%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Caldwell County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Caldwell County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.3%
489
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.3% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Lenoir

Typical rent in Lenoir is $664 a month: 11% below the county. In Lenoir, 36% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Caldwell County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,147 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Caldwell County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $961 $18.48 $38,440
1 bedroom $965 $18.56 $38,600
2 bedrooms $1,147 $22.06 $45,880
3 bedrooms $1,399 $26.90 $55,960
4 bedrooms $1,707 $32.83 $68,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lenoir

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lenoir is in ZIP code 28645.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,060: $87 less than the fair market rent for Caldwell County ($1,147).

  • 28645 $1,060$1,360

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lenoir when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Lenoir

HUD lists 16 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lenoir. These are the largest.

  • Lenoir Units 1 327 Harrington St NW, Lenoir 28645 158 homes, 157 low-income · Run by Lenoir Housing Authority · Average payment: $397 a month · Average wait: 16 months · Homes at several sites (828) 758-5536
  • Caldwell Gardens 1302 Piedmont Dr NW, Lenoir 28645 97 low-income homes · 1 bd: 18 · 2 bd: 49 · 3 bd: 22 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2010 · For families
  • Caldwell Gardens 1520-K Berkley St. NW, Lenoir 28645 97 low-income homes · For families (336) 231-8128
  • Koinonia Apartments 318 Main St NW, Lenoir 28645 84 low-income homes · For older adults (828) 758-2617
  • Woodcrest Apartments 226 Wilson St NW, Lenoir 28645 70 low-income homes · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 22 · 3 bd: 28 · 4 bd: 10 · In service since 2013 · For families (828) 754-6186

See all 22 buildings in Caldwell County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Lenoir

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Caldwell County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Lenoir

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lenoir or Caldwell County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Lenoir the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Lenoir

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lenoir, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Western Piedmont Council of Governments

    1880 2nd Ave NW, Hickory · 14 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (828) 322-9191

  • Cleveland County Community Development Corporation

    823 W Warren St, Shelby · 43 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (704) 480-7701

  • The Safeguard Group - Housing & Debt Advisors

    240 N Main St, Mooresville · 46 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    800-673-6993-146

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Lenoir

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Lenoir

HUD’s record names them for Lenoir or Caldwell County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Caldwell County

These cities are also in Caldwell County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Caldwell County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Lenoir, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Caldwell County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Lenoir.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Lenoir

Short answers with the numbers for Lenoir and all of Caldwell County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Lenoir?

The typical home value in Lenoir is $179,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Caldwell County it is $192,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Lenoir?

Typical rent in Lenoir is $664 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Caldwell County is $1,147.

What is the FHA loan limit in Lenoir?

Lenoir uses the FHA limit for all of Caldwell County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Lenoir?

The typical homeowner in Lenoir pays $1,311 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Caldwell County, the rate is 0.6%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lenoir?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Caldwell County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).